Oldham remembers D-Day heroes

LASTING tribute . . . Oldham Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, his consort, Councillor Kay Knox and veteran Harry Butterworth with other ex-servicemen at the unveiling of the floral display

A PATRIOTIC floral tribute to the borough’s veterans has been unveiled to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Jim McArdle, met members of the Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation outside the old town hall to reveal the display.

The council’s parks and countryside service created the planters and raised beds to commemorate the momentous events of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

The floral display forms part of the borough’s official Bloom and Grow entry in this year’s North-West in Bloom competition.

Deputy council leader Jackie Stanton visited Normandy over the weekend to join in what were the last official commemorations as veterans of the assault prepare to disband their association.

She said: “As we launch our local Bloom and Grow campaign it seemed only fitting and right that we should do something to honour the outstanding gallantry of the men who took part in those historic D-Day landings.

”It is vital that the memory of what they did is preserved for future generations. I hope everyone that passes by this display will stop for a moment to remember the fallen and the incredible sacrifices that were made.”

A rememberance service to honour the fallen took place at the Normandy Stone in Oldham town centre yesterday. Veterans joined the Mayor and Oldham’s Youth Mayor Mohammed Adil for the event which was led by Reverend Derek Palmer, vicar of Oldham Parish.